Smart IR Remote has been missing from the Play Store for over a month, but now it's back, and it comes with greatly needed changes. For starters, you no longer have to purchase a separate version of the app to use it on both the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, a deal that's bigger than you would expect considering that we're talking about two $10 purchases. And since the app is currently available for 50% off, you can get support for both smartphones for just $4.99. Not only that, it should now work with any Samsung tablet with an IR blaster, and it has a new tablet UI to boot.

These aren't the only changes. Users can now add widgets to the lock screen and use icons in widget buttons. The majority of the remaining changes consist of other small improvements and bug fixes.

What's new in version 1.4.0:

Big screen landscape (tablets) support!

Ability to use icons in widget buttons

Ability to add widget to lockscreen

Better tasks and macros

Bugfixes and improvements

Unfortunately, people who previously bought the HTC One version of the app seem to get a raw deal. Though it has received most of the updates of its Samsung peer, the change log makes no mention of it having gained support for additional devices. Considering both cost the same price, anyone interested in checking this app out in the future should obviously go for the one that's now marked for both Samsung and HTC. The other seems completely redundant.

Comments

maxkobi

any idea about support for GN3?

Andrew Black

Looks very nice. I especially like the floating app feature of it. The one thing that love about peel apps on the s4 and HTC one is that it has a TV Guide built in. I may have overlooked the features, but does this have it also?

Matthew Fry

Not that I'm aware of. The TV Guide features are completely useless to me as I don't have TV so I am happy they're not there.

Andrew Black

You don't have a TV or you don't have cable? If you don't have a TV this would be useless to you anyways :p but I understand the feature I referred to isn't for everyone, but is beneficial to many

Matthew Fry

Haha. That's my kind of joke. Yes, I don't receive any television broadcasts. Netflix and games for me.

flosserelli

I thought about buying this, but what does it offer over the standard Samsung S4 tv remote app?

John

It supports damn near any brand of set top box/tv/a.c./you name it

flosserelli

Awesome. Thanks :)

Matthew Fry

At least for the HTC One, the interface is about 10x better and you don't have to go through the TV show interface to get to the remote.

so i assume if you already own the htc specific variant you would need to re-purchase to get this blanked driver variant? :/

hurrpancakes

When I switched from the GS4 to the LG G2, I was rather bummed to find out this app doesn't support the G2. Although I will say I like just being able to press a button in my notification panel and bring up my tv remote.

Elislurry

Thats pretty sweet! I am gonna email the dev and see if he can build that functionality into Smart IR Remote.

Kiiro

Not enough of a good reason for me to switch to the G2. It's been quite a while since LG hasn't been able to put together a nice software.

John

I don't like the fact that it depends on data connectivity to bring up this app. I understand they have a huge menu of codes for devices, but why can't that be bundled with the app & just periodically update it?

Also, does anyone know how long this 50% deal will last?

flosserelli

Hmmm. Or at least the *option* of storing that data on your device.

Spencer

I have the Galaxy S4 with Sprint. Currently running cyanogen mod 10.1.3, stable. In their build, they didn't include the native IR Blaster support.

But... This app, when I bought it and installed it, asked for SUPERUSER access... And guess what? Now it works :)

So those out there with Cyanogen Mod on Sprint with Galaxy S4, here you go, get this app. Happy turning off TVs at Burger King :)

Sean Cummins

This also works with AOKP and I imagine just about any CM based ROM. Just found out last week and couldn't be more thrilled.

Andrew Jiang

The support for IR is there in CM, but they just don't have an app to use IR with heh. Which is why this works perfectly well. :-P

youareme7

Here's hoping the Nexus 5 has an IR port like the G2 does; I've been wanting IR on a phone for a while but I really want stick with Nexus

Andy Stetson

Here's hoping they cook some LG G2 support into it!

Andy Stetson

Emailed the dev, not gonna happen *sad panda*

"Hi

Unfortunately the LG has their communication with the infrared sensor private and we would have to go through their app and use their database which is something that would introduce many other problems , not to mention that the app would be half ours and not having control over the database would mean not having control over what users need .

If their policy will change we will definitely take this into consideration .

Thank you for your interest in our app!

Regards,

Alina"

Albert Charles

Not working for me on cm 10.2 m7vzw just get a foreclose

Kiiro

So, I have this but don't know how to assign the icons to the widget. Could someone care to explain? Thanks.